Container



Nov. 30, 1937. R, D AKE 2,300,713

CONTAINER Filed June 14, 1935 Patented Nov. 30, 1937 man PATENT OFFICECONTAINER Ronald I. Drake, Appleton, Wis, asslgnor to Beatrice CreameryCompany, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 14,1933, Serial No. 675,755

10 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in the type of container made ofpaper or analogous fibrous sheet material adapted for containing variousforms of food products and particularly dairy products as ice cream andthe like of a liquid or semi-solid character and particularly containersof the type as shown in the United States patent of Kenneth L. Murray,2,042,796 of June 2, 1936, the same being containers of the two-piecetype in which the contents of the package are enclosed by'an innerclosure member of creasable and preferably waterproof paperboard orsheet material of a fibrous character of a frusto-pyramidal form adaptedto be enclosed upon its longitudinal sides by an openended tube-likecover portion of a corresponding form to closely surround the side andend walls of the four longitudinal walls of the folded inner containerblank, the two elements of the complete container being of a knock-downcharacter, so that the sheet materials of the blanks may be transportedin a flat condition if desired and easily assembled without theemployment of any tools or pasting materials by a simple hand fold- 5ing operation.

The primary object of my invention is to improve the construction of andmode of assembling and securing together the free ends of the outercontainer member to securely lock the extremities thereof togetherwithout the necessity of any pasting or gluing operation which isdiflicult and expensive, particularly where the paper sheets orfiberboards of which the material is formed has been treated to renderthe same of a waterproof character since mucilaginous materials do notreadily adhere to such treated paper surfaces.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription of the preferred form of my invention as contained in thefollowing specification, reference being had to the drawing forming apart thereof, the novel features of the invention being set forth in theappended claims.

In the said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a two piece container, the outertube-like enveloping portion of which embodies the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, median, vertical, sectional view through theassembled tube-like outer covering of the container,the section beingtaken as indicated on line 22 of Fig. 3 looking in the directionindicated by the arrows, Fig. 3 being a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2looking downwardly as indicated by the arrows.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views of the specially constructedinterlocking device constructed integrally with the body of the blank ofwhich the same is formed, Fig. 4 illustrating the manner of initiallyplacing the interlocking devices into co-operative relation, and Fig. 5showing the completed locked joint. 5

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the reverse side of theco-operating parts of the interlocking joint.

Fig. '7 is a detail, sectional view on line 1-1 of Fig. 5 looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the complete blank forming the outer tube-likeportion of the container, and illustrating the manner of cutting andslitting the periphery and body portions of the blank and scoring thesame for folding and locking in its set up condition for assembly withthe companion container member, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1.

' In the drawing the reference character I0 designates the innerfoldable portion of the container, preferably inthe form of a frustum ofa pyramid in order to secure the most perfect cooperating relationbetween the latter and its outer tube-like container or shell, which isdesignated generally by the reference character H, applied to the sameincluding the blank of Fig. 8 as well as the set up shell shown inFig. 1. The blank H is made up of the side sections l2 and I3 and theintegral connecting end member ll, these portions being bounded bysuitable scored lines l5 and I6 and I1 and I8 respectively where thepaper body may be creased or indented preferably in a series of shortbroken creases for folding the material of the body to the substantiallyright angular positions on IS and i6 and also for folding the sheetextensions beyond the creased lines I! and I8 producing the flaps orextensions 19 and 20 designed to overlap each other when assembled inthe manner illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the section or flap l9overlying the part 20 in the manner illustrated in common to containersof this general character. The section 20 will preferably be ofapproximately the width of the section l4 allowing merely for thicknessof the material as the sections are folded around each other in theoverlapping positions and it will be seen that when the member II isbrought to the tubular form, the section l9 will overlie the section 20so that the specially formed integral locking members 2| on the sectionl9 -may be caused to enter the slitted openings formed by producing thedepressible tongues 22, the latter each being preferably formed by theco-operation and intersection of two elongated kerfs or slits 23, 24.The slits 23 extend preferably longitudinally oi the section 22 at thepredetermined position to insure the proper interlocked and overlappingpositions of the sections l9 and 20, their location obviously dependingupon the width of the overlapping section It and the position of theinterlocking projections 2| thereon. The longitudinally extending slits23 are intersected by the slits 24 which have their terminals curved asindicated at 25.

It will be apparent that the device to be operative for the insertion ofthe interlocking projections 2| with the intersecting slits 24 whichpartially bound the depressible tongues 22 in order that theinterlocking projections 2| may be readily inserted in the slittedsection 20* the additional slits or kerfs 24, 25 are provided freeingthe body of the tongues 22 at one end so that they may flex inwardly tobring the interlocking parts easily and surely into their properinterlocking relations.

Another important feature of the invention to secure facility and easeof operation resides in the construction of the interlocking or hookedprojections 2| by which their outer peripheries are curved from thebases of each outwardly and around so that they, have overlyingprojecting ends as indicated at 25 with looking recesses 21 openingdownwardly for co-operating with the lower extremities of the slits orkerfs 23 in forming the requisite interlocking in the manner shown mostclearly in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive in the operation of the improvedcontainer as the inner body portion has been folded to its set-up 1condition with the top closure flaps as shown in Fig. 1 in the foldedposition or closed position as may be desired.

The outer tubular portion embodying the improved interlocking mechanismof my invention may be assembled by folding the same to the tubularformation with the terminal section l9 overlying the opposite terminalsection 20. This will put the locking projections 2| in positionadjacent the depressible tongues 22 with their bounding slits 23 and 24,25 and the described shapes and relations of the projections 2| and thetongues 22 are such that when the curved forward edges of theprojections 2| are pressed toward and upon the tongues 22, they will beinwardly depressed, thus more readily opening up the slits 23 to theingress of the rounded body portions of the projections 2|. It will benoted that the projections 2| on the sides thereof opposite theunderlying slots 21 at their bases are curved as indicated at 28 andthat such curved portions 28 will contact with the curved extremities 25of the slits 24 and being angular upon the first movement of theirinsertion, the sections i9 and 20 will be in the approximate positionsof the fragmentary portions of such sections as indicated in Fig. 4. Assoon as the curved body portions of the projections 2| have passedthrough the slits or ke'rfs 23 to cause the undercut slots 21 of theprojections to coincide with the slits or kerfs 23 as shown in Fig. 4,further ingress of the projections 2| due to the contact of the angularportions 28 with the upper ends of the slits or kerfs 23 will tend tocause the body of the projection 2| as well as the body of the sectionl9 to move downwardly in relation to the section 20 so that theprojecting lower extremities of the members 2| will overlie the terminalportions of the slits 23 to produce an interlock which will be effectiveto securely hold the sections l9 and 20 in their permanent overlappingrelation, when the folded or set up inner portion of. the container lmay be inserted and securely held therein for filling oi the containerand for transportation and distribution.

In operation the formation of the outer tubelike shell II by insertingthe projections 2| into the slits 23 as represented in Figures 4 and 5,will cause the resilient tongue 22 to extend inwardly as shown moreclearly in Fig. 2. The insertion of the inner container l0 within theouter shell I I either when the inner container is filled with materialor when it is empty, will cause the pro- Jecting tips of. the tongues 22to be depressed or returned to the space from which they came. This ismade possible by the downward movement of the projections 26 beinghooked in place at the bottom of the slot 23 and because the tongues 22are longer than the width of the neck of the hooked portion 21 asclearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Thus the extremities of the springtongues 22 are forced outwardly by the inner container so that theseextremities re-engage in the slot of the wall from which they are formedand eflectively interlock the projections 25 in place. If the innercontainer is filled with any material the tendency of the weight of thematerial itself is to press the upper tips of the tongues 22 more firmlyinto such interlocking engagement and thus to more effectually lock theouter container H in position.

As set forth in the description of this type of container in the beforedescribed patent of Kenneth L. Murray, after the inner container isinserted in the outer tubular portion embodying my invention, this typeof outer holder for the inner portion of. the container will permit theupward movement of the inner part of the container in relation to theholder because of the downwardly tapering shape of the parts so thatwhen desired the outer holder may be easily removed by a relativelydownward telescopic movement thus making it unnecessary as a matter ofgeneral practice to unlock the overlapping portions i9 and 20 of theouter and tubular part of the container embodying the invention.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be seen that Ihave provided an improved construction of an interlocking joint fortubular paper containers that is operable without the use of anyadhesive or extraneous attaching materials or tools, the construction ofwhich permits of the assembly of. the parts of the tubular containermembers in a facile manner by comparatively unskilled help by employinga simple hand operation, and the interlocking parts being integrallyformed in the body of the sheet of the tubular container, lendthemselves readily to practical production and operation in the use ofwaterproofed and other materials that are difficult of attachment bymost common forms of mucilaginous adhesive substances.

In order that the invention might be understood the details of thepreferred embodiment thereof are set forth but it is not desired to belimited to such details of construction except as set forth in theclaims.

I claim:

1. A two-piece container comprising an inner body portion in the form ofa frustum of a pyramid and an outer co-operating portion comprising asheet of flexible material adapted to be given a tubular form fortelescopically receiving the inner frusto-pyramidal body portion, saidouter portion being adapted to be secured in the tubular form by theprovision of two-overlapping terminal portions, one of which terminalportions is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart projections on itsmarginal edge and the other portion having a plurality ofcorrespondingly spaced depressible tongues formed integrally from thebody thereof, each of said depressible tongues being formed by anelongated kerf and by a second kerf extending for the major portion ofits length approximately parallel to the first said kerf and beingthence curved to intersect the first said kerf whereby to free one endof the said depressible tongues from the body of the material so thatthe tongue is free to flex at one end for the full length of the kerfs,the said spaced-apart projections each being convexly curved on one sideto co-operate with the said curved intersecting kerf at the free end ofthe tongues and each of the said projections on its underside beingundercut adjacent the point of its integral connection with the marginaledge of the body portion of the sheet whereby to provide interlockingengagement of the respective projections with the material of the bodyportion of the sheet at the terminal oi the kerf adjacent the base ofeach of said. tongues when the terminal portions of the sheet arebrought into overlapping engagement by the insertion of the spaced-apartprojections through the respective openings in the sheet bounded by thekeris forming the tongues and the terminal portions of the sheet arelaterally shifted to bring the undercut portions of the projections intointerlocking relationship with the tongue kerfs at the bases of therespective tongues in the manner described and the free end of eachtongue being pressed outwardly by the inserted inner body portion toengage the convexly curved portion of. the correspondingly insertedprojection.

2. An improved construction for uniting the terminal portions offlexible sheet materials in overlapping relation with each other,comprising a sheet having a plurality of spaced-apart elongated kerfsforming tongues extending the full length of said kerfs in the body ofone terminal portion and corresponding co-operating projections on themarginal edge of the other terminal portion, such projections being of awidth adapting the same to be inserted within the space normallyoccupied by the tongue and formed by said elongated kerfs of the firstsaid terminal portion, there being curved cam portions at the top andundercut slots in the bases of. the respective projections to permitsynchronous, relative, longitudinal shifting of the said terminalportions when the said projections and slits are in co-operativerelation to bring the terminal portions into interlocking relation witheach other and the tongues being free at one end and of a length tooverlap and engage the cam portions when the projections are moved tothe opposite ends of the kerfs.

3. In a container, the combination with an inner body portion, of anouter portion comprising a sheet of flexible material adapted to begiven a tubular form by overlapping the terminal portions thereof, therebeing elongated kerfs in the body of one terminal portion forming atongue extending the full length of. the kerfs and connected at one endonly, and a co-operating projection formed on the lateral edge of theother terminal portion, such projection having a curved periphery at oneside and provided with an undercut slot at the opposite base portionsthere of to cause relative longitudinal shifting of the said terminalportions in bringing the said terminal portions into co-incidentalrelation by inserting the projection against the tongue to deflect itand thence to the opening formed by the kerfs at the sides of the tongueand for locking said portions together in relation to each other and thetongue being pressed outwardly by the inner body portion so that itsfree extremity extends across and interlocks against the curvedperiphery of the inserted projection and into the end .of its kerfs.

4. An improved construction for uniting the terminal portions offlexible sheet material in overlapping relation, comprising a pluralityof spaced-apart projections on the overlapping edge of one of theterminal portions and a like number of spaced-apart, registering,depressible tongues extending transversely of the projections and formedin the other terminal portion by intersecting slits or kerfs of.substantially the same lengths, the said co-operating projections beingprovided with undercut slots at the bases thereof adapting them forhooking into interlocking relationship with the material of the terminalportions carrying the said tongues at the respective bases of saidtongues therein and the end of the tongues being re-engageable with endsof their kerfs after the projections are inserted through the kerfs andmoved to the opposite ends thereof.

5. A tubular body member formed of. creasable flexible material adaptedto form an outer openended body portion for a container structureprovided with a plurality of integrally formed projections each of whichare undercut on corresponding sides at their respective bases and spacedupon the marginal edge of one of the terminal portions, there beingco-operating kerfs in the body of the other terminal portion of thesheet with intersecting kerfs to form tongues integral with the sheetextending transversely of the projections, the free ends of whichtongues are movable from one end of their kerfs out of the plane of thebody portion of the sheet whereby to receive and co-operate with thesaid projections when the terminal portions of the sheet are givenrelative lateral movement with respect to each other to form aninterlocking joint, and means on the projections engaging the kerfs togive said lateral movement, the free end of each tongue being returnableto re-engage in the end of its kerfs after the projection is insertedtherein and moved to the opposite end of. the kerfs.

6. As an article of mawfacture, a blank cut with four trapezoidal sidesto form an outer tubular portion of a two-part paper container in theform of an inverted frustum of a pyramid, comprising a creasable,flexible sheet provided with terminal portions adapted for overlapping,said sheet having a plurality of integrally formed, laterallyoverhanging projections on the marginal edge of one of the terminalportions and a plurality of. co-operating tongues extending transverselyof the projections and bounded by intersecting kerfs formed in the bodyof the other terminal portion adapted to be engaged by said laterallyoverhanging projections with the terminal portions of the sheet out ofalignment and to form an interlocking relation between the said terminalportions when the said projections are inserted in the said slots andthe respective terminal portions of the blank are laterally shifted inrelation to each other and the tongues being of greater lengths than theengaged portions of the projections so that they extend across theinserted projections and the extremities oi the tongues re-engage intheir kerts when pressed outwardly.

7. As an article of manufacture, an elongated sheet of flexible,creasable material provided on one oi. its marginal terminals with aplurality of spaced-apart integral hook-like projections and within thebody portion thereof at the other extremity of the sheet, a plurality ofsimilarly spaced, co-operable, integrally formed, flexible tongues eachextending transversely oi its corresponding projection and partiallysevered from the body of the sheet by a plurality of intersecting keris,the kerfs forming slots of greater length than the width of the neck ofthe projections at the positions where they are inserted to hook intointerlocking engagement with the ends of the slots and the ends oi! thetongues being movable in the slots and into re-engagement with theadjacent ends 01' their own slots for interlocking engagement with saidprojections.

8. A container wrapper comprising a sheet of flexible material havingprojections at one end each having a rounded camming portion at one sideand an undercut hook at the other side, the other end of the sheethaving corresponding slits forming tongues extending the full length ofthe slits and the slits forming openings adapted to receive theprojections of. the other end of the sheet with the extremities of thesheet out of alignment, the camming portions of the projections movingthe ends of the sheet into alignment as the projections are inserted inthe openings formed by the slits and engaging the hooks in the ends ofthe slits the tongues being longer than the transverse portions of theprojections engaged in the openings formed by the slits and movable intoengagement with the ends of their own openings by engagement of acuitainer inserted in the wrapper.

9. A wrapper typ of container formed oi a sheet 0! flexible materialhaving hooked projecjections causing the cam portions to engage the 10slits as they are inserted and aligning the ends of the sheet with thehooks interlocked with the ends of the slits, the necks of theprojections in interlocked engagement being less in width than thelength of the slits, and locking tongues formed at one side andextending the full length oi! the slits and each having a pointedextremity which tends to return by the engagement of a containerinserted in the wrapper to the plane of the material when displaced bythe insertion of the camming projections, thereby tending to interlockthe projections and tongues. 4

10. A two-piece container comprising an inner body portion and an outersurrounding shell, both tapered in form and insertable one within theother, the wrapper shell comprising flexible sheet material havinghooked projections at one end with corresponding slits in the other endof the wrapper to receive the projections with the ends of the sheet outof alignment and the ends or the sheet being moved into alignment afterthe projections are inserted, the slits having adjacent locking tonguesparallel therewith and connected at one end only of the slit and longerthan the width of the projection so that the end of the tongue willre-engage with the slit when the inner body portion is inserted in theouter shell in assembling the container.

RONALD I. DRAKE.

